Essential Information

Your A - Z of important information on renting a holiday villa in North Cyprus from Amy Villas is right here!

Our job here at Amy Villas is to help you choose a North Cyprus rental villa and resort that is just right for you and your party. If you don't find information you are looking for here, just email our experienced and knowledgeable reservations staff with as many questions as you like!

This Essential Information, together with the Booking Terms and Conditions we supply to you, will form the basis of your agreement with Amy Villas. They apply only to holiday villa rental, car hire and airport transfers which you book with us online and which we agree to make, provide or perform as applicable as part of our agreement with you.

Air conditioning and Heating

If your North Cyprus holiday villa or apartment has air conditioning, this is listed in the property details, and a charge for use will be made locally, if indicated. Most properties for rent in North Cyprus do not have central heating or equivalent, although some may have open fireplaces. Please contact us if you require further details on North Cyprus holiday villas with heating for winter rentals.

Airport Transfers

Amy Villas offer great deals on private taxi transfers from either Ercan International Airport in North Cyprus or Larnaca Airport in south Cyprus. You can book both your airport transfer at the same time that you book your Amy Villa. Simply enter your flight details and choose either a one-way or return transfer. (If you are flying through Turkey, please note your flight number from Istanbul to Ercan Airport may change.) Your Amy Villas airport transfer is a private taxi transfer, not in a shared minibus.

Arriving in North Cyprus: On arrival at either Ercan or Larnaca, you will be greeted by our driver as you come through the Arrivals gate. The driver will be holding a card with your name on it.Departing from North Cyprus: The driver will meet you at an agreed central location in Kyrenia or near your villa at the pick up time you ask for.Pick up Time: Please allow at least 2 hours before your flight from Ercan Airport and at least 3.5 hours before your flight from Larnaca Airport.

You are responsible for informing us about flight delays. Although the taxi driver is likely to wait for you, we cannot guarantee that they will do so. In the event that your flight is delayed and we have not been informed beforehand, and the taxi driver leaves the airport, we are unable to refund your airport transfer cost since we will have to pay the taxi driver. Your booking details will include a North Cyprus telephone number so you can inform us of any delays.

Airport Taxes

You are responsible for paying any taxes due on any flights to North Cyprus you book yourself or book via any link on the Amy Villas website.

Assistance from Amy Villas

At Amy Villas, we provide you with quality villa accommodation in North Cyprus - and leave you to enjoy it in peace! We do not have welcome meetings, organised outings, and our representative will not call in. You will be given a phone number to call in case you need any assistance with any aspect of your villa rental.

Beaches

North Cyprus has literally hundreds of glorious beaches, ranging from the near-deserted golden sands of the Karpas Peninsula beaches to the popular, fun-filled beach clubs around Kyrenia. For more information, read our North Cyprus Guide to Beaches.

Boat Tours

Several companies offer boat tours along the north coastline of North Cyprus. Most depart from Kyrenia harbour; see our North Cyprus Guide to Boat Tours for details.

Booking Terms and Conditions

Border Crossings

Crossing the border between North Cyprus and south Cyprus is now very straightforward, with both sides usually only requiring a brief examination of your passport and visa, if applicable. If you do not wish your passport to be stamped, the border authorities will stamp a piece of paper instead on request - just don't lose it! For more information, see our North Cyprus Guide to Border Crossings.

Building Work

North Cyprus is a popular area for new property construction. It may happen that building or construction work, both by government authorities and private developers, may be occurring near your Amy Villas North Cyprus rental villa during your stay. For properties in residential areas, work may also start on a neighbouring property without warning. Amy Villas will try to inform you of any planned work of which we are aware, but please accept our apologies if this is not possible.

Car Hire in Northern Cyprus

You can book your North Cyprus car hire when you book your holiday villa holiday online. Your rental car price from Amy Villas covers your entire stay as detailed in your villa booking, and includes all taxes, CDW with no excess, unlimited mileage, free additional drivers and free baby seats if required - please request at time of booking. Please inform us if you require any additional days hire beyond the timeframe of your villa booking. We will try our best to provide the car requested on your booking form, but all cars are subject to availability.

You can collect your rental car from Ercan airport or have it delivered to your holiday villa in Northern Cyprus. You must hold a current full British or International driving licence. There may be an additional charge for drivers under the age of 25. No charge is made for additional drivers over the age of 25. Please note that North Cyprus hire cars cannot be driven across the border into south Cyprus.

You can hire a car in south Cyprus and drive into North Cyprus, but there are risks involved - please see our article on Flights for further details. Amy Villas strongly recommend that if you fly into south Cyprus, you take advantage of our private taxi airport transfers, and have a North Cyprus hire car delivered to your villa. For further details see our North Cyprus Guide to Car Hire & Driving in North Cyprus.

Children

Children are very welcome in North Cyprus, and most Turkish Cypriots will make a great fuss of them. However, do not leave your children unsupervised at any time during your holiday in North Cyprus, and take additional notice and care around unfamiliar aspects of your rental villa, such as swimming pools, balconies, etc. Parents are responsible for the actions of their children at all times.

Security Deposits

On arrival at your holiday villa, the keyholder or owner may ask you for a small security deposit, to cover any breakages or damage in the villa during your stay. The amount payable will vary from villa to villa, and is usually payable in Turkish Liras or British pounds.

Disabled Travellers

Amy Villas are not a specialist travel company for the disabled, so please inform us well in advance if you have any special needs. Some of our holiday villas in North Cyprus may be unsuitable for the disabled or for wheelchair users. Again, please contact us before making a booking, so we can advise on suitable properties for your North Cyprus holiday.

Driving in North Cyprus

In North Cyprus, you drive on the left as in the UK. The rules of the road are very similar, but do ask when you collect your North Cyprus hire car if you require any detailed information. You should familiarise yourself with Turkish names for your destinations, as Kyrenia is signposted as Girne, while Nicosia is signposted as Lefkosa. Do not drink and drive; the rules are as strict as in the UK.

Duty Free Shopping

North Cyprus is not in the EU, so if you fly in and out of Ercan airport from the UK, you are entitled to a non-EU duty free allowance.

If you fly in and out of Larnaca airport in south Cyprus, which is in the EU, you do not have to pay any tax or duty in the UK on goods on which tax has been already paid in an EU country. However, any alcohol or tobacco you bring into the UK must be for your own use and transported by you. Do not try to bring alcohol or cigarettes from North Cyprus into south Cyprus, as they are liable to be confiscated at the border. For further details, read our North Cyprus Guide to Ercan Airport & Duty Free Shopping and consult the UK Customs website at http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk.

Early Spring, late Autumn and Winter Holidays in North Cyprus

Please note that during the late autumn, winter and in early spring, some facilities in North Cyprus may be closed, such as beach clubs and rural or resort restaurants. Do contact us for details of the best locations for an out-of-season North Cyprus villa holiday.

Festivals, National and Religious Holidays

Local festivals happen throughout the year in North Cyprus and although they are always enjoyable, there may be extra noise late at night in certain areas. Shops, banks, bars, restaurants and other facilities may be closed on festival days, and national and religious holidays.

Flights to North Cyprus and south Cyprus

You are responsible for the booking and payment of all your flights to either Ercan Airport in North Cyprus or Larnaca Airport in south Cyprus. Amy Villas cannot book flights for you. Please see Flights to Cyprus for helpful advice on booking your villa holiday flights to North Cyprus or south Cyprus.

Golf and Other Sports in North Cyprus

The new 18-hole international golf course at the Korineum Golf & Country Club has provided keen golfers with a great course and excellent club facilities in North Cyprus. For more details on this great course, see our North Cyprus Guide to Golf for details. North Cyprus has many other sports on offer including paragliding, diving, go-karting, 4x4 safaris, paintballing, and water sports at many local beaches and beach clubs. Football is very popular in North Cyprus, and many bars show matches on big screens, and the local team at Esentepe will be happy to see you cheering them on in their town stadium!

Highchairs and Cots

Highchairs and cots when available, will be listed in property details.

Historic Sites

Cyprus has been occupied since prehistoric times, so North Cyprus is dotted with fascinating historic sites, including ancient Roman ruins, Persian palaces, Byzantine churches, Crusader castles, Augustinian abbeys, Venetian harbours, and traditional villages, all just waiting to be explored.

Insects and Animals

As with all hot Mediterranean countries, mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches and other insects are present all year round, especially in rural areas. You may wish to bring both plug-in mosquito repellants and suitable sprays from the UK, or you can buy these locally at shops or pharmacies. To avoid ants in your holiday villa kitchen, keep surfaces and floor swept and clean of crumbs, and keep sugar-rich foods such as jam in the fridge. Ant powders are also available to buy locally.

You may encounter rodents and other animals in your North Cyprus villa garden or pool area. North Cyprus dogs and cats are usually allowed to wander free and may not appear to have an owner. However, please do not feed or pet any animal, wild or domestic, as it may bite or harbour fleas. The Karpas wild donkeys may also kick, so keep well clear. Nesting sea turtles are a protected species and their nesting sites must not be disturbed.

Insurance

Amy Villas do not include any form of travel insurance in the rental price for your North Cyprus villa holiday. You should take out your own travel insurance prior to leaving the UK, and make sure you are adequately covered for any medical emergency. North Cyprus is not part of the EU, so your European Health Card (which replaces the old E1-11) is not valid.

Lost Property

Please ensure you take all your belongings with you when you finally leave your Northern Cyprus villa at the end of your holiday. While we will make every effort to return any property left behind, this cannot be guaranteed, and you will be charged postage, packing and a handling fee for any items you wish returned.

Maid Service

Your North Cyprus villa is properly cleaned and prepared prior to your arrival. In some of our North Cyprus rental villas, a maid service is included, and additional cleaning may be requested and paid for locally. Clean linen and towels are always provided. You should bring your own beach and pool towels, and not use the villa towels. If you use any villa barbecue, please clean it properly after use to discourage flies.

Maintenance of Pool, Gardens and Villa

Your holiday villa in North Cyprus is kept in excellent condition thanks to an ongoing system of maintenance, sometimes by the owners themselves. Only approved staff or owners will visit your villa during your stay, but we are unable to give exact times for their arrival or work schedule.North Cyprus gardens require regular maintenance, and so gardening staff may be working in your villa grounds during your stay.

On Request Villas

Some of our more exclusive North Cyprus private villas are only available on a request basis. When you book, we need to check the villa availability in person with the villa owner before your booking can be finalised. We do try to do this as quickly as possible, usually within 48 hours. Please note, we cannot request rental of these special villas until we are holding payment for the villa rental.

Occupying and Vacating Your North Cyprus Holiday Villa

Your North Cyprus holiday villa or apartment will generally be available from 4pm on your arrival day. If you are arriving late at night, we suggest you bring a torch so you can see to unlock the door! Please vacate your property by 11am on departure day so your villa can be cleaned and prepared for the next set of guests. If you have arranged a return private taxi airport transfer direct from your North Cyprus villa, please ensure that your pick-up time is before 11am.

Passports

You are responsible for ensuring you and every member of your family or party has a correct and valid passport and visa, if required. (See our Visa section below for more details.)

The following information is valid for holders of British passports issued in the UK. Only full ten-year passports are valid for travel abroad and all children must hold their own passport. You must have at least six months remaining on your passport before it expires, at time of travel to North Cyprus. If you need a new passport, make sure you apply by post in plenty of time, as there can be lengthy delays in processing during the summer months. For more information, either ring the UK Passport Office on 0870 5210410 or see their website, at http://www.ukpa.gov.uk

Non-British citizens (includes citizens of British overseas territories, citizens who hold their citizenship by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar, and British subjects who have a right of abode and EC and other nationals) should consult the North Cyprus Tourism Centre on +44 20 7631 1930 and the Home Office immigration department to ensure they have any special documentation required for travel to North Cyprus, and for their return to the UK.

Personal Health

If you or any member of your party are pregnant, or suffer from a pre-existing medical condition, please check with your doctor if you should travel abroad. Please also inform Amy Villas before booking. We reserve the right to refuse a booking under certain circumstances. If you are taking any medication, please make sure you take sufficient supplies for your whole holiday, as medicines and drugs available in the UK may not be available easily in North Cyprus. If you do require medical attention while in North Cyprus, you may be charged for it, so keep the receipt for when making a claim on your holiday insurance.

Personal Safety

North Cyprus has a very low crime rate, but regrettably incidents can occur, just as in the UK. Please be extra vigilant regarding your personal safety and take care of your personal property. Secure shutters, lock doors and close all windows every time you leave your holiday villa. Do not leave anything of value in your hire car, and if your holiday villa has a safe or safety deposit box, use it to store your valuables. If you are unfortunate to lose any items or have them stolen, report the loss to the local police and ask for a written report. You may need such a report when claiming any losses from your insurance.

Printing Errors

Amy Villas aims to give accurate descriptions and prices for all our villas for rent in North Cyprus, but inevitably, errors can occur and prices and villa specifications may alter due to circumstances beyond our control.

Private Villa Furnishings and Fittings

All of our villas to rent in Northern Cyprus are privately owned, and each villa is decorated and furnished according to the owner's personal tastes. This may occasionally result in insufficient furnishings in the lounge for everyone in your party to have a seat on the sofa or in an armchair at one time. All our properties conform to North Cyprus safety standards, which do differ from those you expect in the UK. Please report any breakages, which may be charged against your security deposit.

Swimming Pools

None of our North Cyprus outdoor swimming pools are heated, as during the summer months this is unnecessary! Private swimming pools in villas vary in depth and design, and very few have any safety fence around them. Therefore, always take care when walking around the swimming pool area. Children must always be supervised when in the pool or pool area.

Satellite Televisions, DVD Players, etc

Some of our villas in North Cyprus have satellite TV listed in their details. Other rental villas only have a standard television receiving local North Cyprus tv channels in Turkish. If your North Cyprus holiday villa has video or DVD players, games consoles or CD players provided, please bring your favourite films or music with you. There are DVD rental shops in North Cyprus.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any of our holiday villas in North Cyprus, and we would request that you only smoke outside the villa. Please do not leave cigarette stubs in the garden.

Sustainable Tourism

By renting a villa in North Cyprus from Amy Villas, you are helping this beautiful country emerge from years of isolation into worldwide recognition. Every lira you spend in your villa location in North Cyprus helps the economy, so please support your local shopkeeper, restaurant owners or craft shop. You can reduce your holiday villa's environmental impact by using as little water as possible, and only running air conditioning when necessary. In the North Cyprus countryside, as the saying goes, "Take only photographs, leave only footprints." For more information on wildlife and nature in North Cyprus, including protection of nesting sea turtles and bird-watching, enjoy our North Cyprus Guide to Nature.

Transfers

Travel Documents

When you book your villa for rent in North Cyprus online with Amy Villas, we send you a confirmation email within seven days. Full details of your villa, including driving directions if you have hired a car from us, will be sent by email two weeks prior to your departure. Please inform us ASAP of any changes in your flight timings, and also if you change email addresses, or move house.

Visas

All citizens of the European Union (EU) including Britain do not require a visa for entry into North Cyprus. In addition, citizens of Turkey, USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Israel, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a tourist. All other nationals should check their position with regard to passports and visa with their nearest Embassy or Representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. You must hold a valid passport.

If you are flying into Ercan International Airport, and your flight stops over in Turkey, you do not require a visa for Turkey, as you are in transit. Non-EU citizens flying into Larnaca airport should carefully check visa requirements for entry into the Republic of Cyprus (south Cyprus).

Water, electricity and gas

All water, gas and electricity are included in your rental villa price, with the exception of a local charge for use of any air conditioning. Please note that all of Cyprus is liable to water shortages during the summer, and you may experience water restrictions or power cuts, when supplies are turned off sometimes without notice. Most North Cyprus villas for rent have their own water supply tank, which should be sufficient for a smaller family for a week if you use water sparingly.

Weather

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, you are highly unlikely to need an umbrella on a summer villa holiday in North Cyprus. Please see our North Cyprus Guide to Weather & Clothing for details on what to wear whatever the season.

Website

Amy Villas take great care to ensure that the information and photographs we show on our website are accurate. However, services and facilities offered by the many individuals involved in providing your villa holiday may change, or they may withdraw services without giving notice to us. Villa owners may also add (or remove) facilities from their villa without notice. We will try to inform you of any changes, errors, price alterations or other changes as soon as possible. All distances quoted are approximate.

Welcome Pack

A welcome pack of essential groceries such as milk, bread, cheese, fruit, bottle of local wine, etc can be provided for your arrival in your North Cyprus holiday villa, payable in advance. Please contact us for details.